Differentdawn.com: Sugar Gliders


Until I moved to Florida, I had no idea that sugar gliders even existed. Being born and raised in Northern California, exotic pets were a forbidden passion. Although I had friends who owned illegal ferrets, the most exotic pets I ever owned was my one-eyed cat and a series of Siberian dwarf hamsters. It is no surprise, then, that I purchased my first ferrets, Jem and Scout, within two month of moving to Florida.
A few weeks after I brought the boys home, I dropped in to a small pet store down the street from my house looking for more ferrets hammocks. It was a small, crowded store, the shelves heavy with items. A stack of cages sat in the middle of a walkway. The top one held baby parakeets and cockatoos. The one on the end was full of sleepy hamsters. The bottom one had chinchillas and I leaned in closer to peer at them, having heard of them, but never seen them before. As I raised back up, I realized that I was being watched by the biggest pair of black liquid eyes I had ever seen. A pointy nose twitched slightly in my direction as the middle cage’s tiny inhabitant regarded me curiously from the confines of his wooden house. I felt the smile breaking out on my face even as my eyes found the sign on the side of the glass: Sugar Gliders.			Brief History Pros Cons Feeding Bonding Handy Tips

Thus began my long distance love affair with these tiny, personable marsupials. Although we have never owned one, we have worked to do the research to help you decide if you should add one – or more – to your household. We personally don’t feel ready for them yet, but, boy, are we thinking about it.
A Brief History of Sugar Gliders:

Sugar gliders are nocturnal marsupials from New Zealand, New Guinea, Indonesia, and Australia. Although they are relative newcomers to the American pet scene, they have been kept successfully in captivity for decades. Although some sugar gliders are still captured from the wild, most gliders available for purchase today have been bred in captivity by commercial breeders.
Gliders – often called sugar gliders or honey gliders because of their fondness for sweets, including nectars and tree sap – are not rodents. Rather, gliders are a type of gliding possum. They resemble a small flying squirrel and are noted for their tiny little hands, huge, intelligent eyes, delicate, soft fur, and large pointed ears. They are incredibly social animals. They enjoy human company and they live in community groups of six to ten animals in the wild. Territorial to a degree, they like to nap in their nests during the daytime, emerging at night to forage for food and jump from treetop to treetop, gliding up to 150 feet at a time.
Sugar gliders are approximately nine inches in length, over half of which is made up of tail. Their tails provide balance and help them to steer as they drift through the air. Their gliding ability is made possible by the long, sail-like membranes that stretches from their front to hind feet. They have sharp claws and tiny opposable digits that make them excellent climbers, be it scrabbling up a tree or scampering up their owner’s leg.
Gliders are a brownish grey in color with a cream-colored undercoat. They have dark patterns on their head and back and the male is notable for a diamond shaped "bald" scent patch on his forehead. This scent gland enables the male to participate in another form of glider communication: scent marking. Since each glider has it’s own distinctive scent, the males help to mark all members of a glider ‘family’ with his own scent, thus strengthening their family bond. (Females, too, carry scent glands, located in their pouches and on their undersides.) Other than the forehead marking, males and females are very similar in appearance and behavior, with both sexes weighing in at a diminutive 4 to 6 ounces apiece.
Since they are marsupials, they have very interesting breeding techniques. Their gestation period is just over two weeks with they tiny glider moving from its mother’s uterus directly to her pouch where it attaches itself to a nipple and remains for the better part of two months. After three months, the babies are weaned completely and will begin to venture out on their own. Gliders breed year around, reaching sexual maturity at approximately eight months of age. Mothers are capable of carrying two pouched babies at one time.
As social animals, sugar gliders have an extensive vocabulary of sounds. They will talk and chitter to their owners and reach other, often expressing displeasure with a "’crabbing’ sound which resembles the grind of an electric pencil sharpener." (GliderConnection.com, FAQ) Their communication is designed to carry from treetop to treetop and explains their sensitive, highly developed ears.
Should I Get a Sugar Glider?:

Pros:

Cuter Than a Bug’s Ear: Boy, are they ever cute! Even notice how sugar gliders look an awful lot like Gizmo from the Gremlins movie? Beyond their good looks, their intelligence makes them an excellent companion animal. Once they have bonded with their owners, sugar gliders are more than happy to ride in a pocket or a pouch. Although they are nocturnal animals, they can be trained to spend some time awake during the daylight hours for some quality playtime. (It is important to remember, however, that their eyes are incredibly sensitive to bright light and that too much exposure to direct sunlight can be incredibly damaging to these little fur people.) Gliders love to climb and explore and scamper about; if you enjoy watching the squirrels play in your yard, you will adore watching your little marsupial scramble around your house. Smart, good-looking, and athletic? Sounds like the perfect pet to me! Long Live the Sugar Glider!: Sugar gliders are deceptively delicate in appearance. When fed an appropriate diet and cared for properly, gliders can remain very healthy with little problems. Diet is, of course, the key, but – unlike many exotic pets – they do not require an expensive specialized diet. (See the Feeding Fun section for more detailed dietary information.) Gliders live a long and full life in captivity, living anywhere from eight to twelve years, with a captivity record of fourteen years for one hardy individual. Is That a Glider in Your Pocket or Are You Just Happy to See Me?: Glider owners get a little dewy-eyed when they talk about their little furry friends. Captivity raised gliders are taught to bond with humans very early on and they tend to bond very heavily with their owners. Glider carry sacks are often referred to as bonding bags and that is exactly the purpose they serve for pet and owner. Carrying your little friends around with you not only allows them to be an active part of your life, it lets them get used to your scent and sounds and makes them bond to you as part of their family unit. Given enough attention your glider will bond to you in a way that needs to be experienced to be understood. Makes me a little dewy-eyed just thinking about it…
Cons:

Housebreaking Heartbreak: Listen carefully and take heed to this warning. It is absolutely impossible to housebreak a sugar glider. Hear that? Impossible. Not going to happen. No way. Gliders will eliminate whereever they want, whenever they want, including while being held by their loving owners. Don’t take it personally – it’s just the way they are. Luckily, they have small, firm droppings that can be cleaned from clothing and furniture and carpets easily. If you are squeamish about bodily functions, however, this is most likely not the pet for you. Outlaw Marsupials: As we have told you before on this site, it is important to check with local authorities before keeping an exotic pet. Just like ferrets, sugar gliders are illegal to own in many places. (Some people object to gliders being kept as pets at all, by the way.) Check the laws in your area before seeking one out. [If they are illegal in your area and you choose to own one anyway, make sure that you can find a sympathetic vet who will help you in a time of need, regardless of the laws; don’t allow your pet to suffer because of your own legal concerns!] Look, Ma! I Can Climb the Drapes!: Some gliders tend to be more, um, enthusiastic about household items than others. Once you get a glider into your home, you will discover if you have a chewer, or a scaler, or a scratcher. Gliders need to be caged safely when they are not with their owners; left to their own devices, they can be destructive and can get themselves into trouble that might lead to injury or death. Another drawback to the climbing factor centers on their choices of climbing medium. Gliders are tempted to climb anything that looks interesting…and that includes their human companions as well. Owners often suffer scratches and some people are allergic to those scrapes – just as some people are allergic to cat scratches. Check out your reaction to gliders before you bring one home. Lonely, I’m So Lonely: If you are looking for a pet that can be left to it’s own devices all the time, look elsewhere. Gliders need attention, love, and supervision. Left alone without companionship, gliders will sicken and die. Most people insist that gliders should be kept in pairs so that they avoid loneliness. Others claim that, given enough attention from their human owners, they will thrive without a member of their own species around for security. No matter how you look at it, they will be time consuming on one level or another. How Much!?!: One last thing to remember is the expense. Sure, cages and toys and food are costly, but, as an exotic pet, remember that your glider itself is going to cost you a pretty penny. Depending on availability in your area, expect to pay anywhere from $100 to $800 for your new companion.
Feeding Fun:

We mentioned before that proper diet is a very important factor in the health and happiness of a sugar glider, but we also said that they are not hard to feed. What the heck are we talking about? It really is a combination of both. Gliders are omnivores; 75% of their foodstuff is vegetable based and 25% is meaty protein. Remember that they got their name based on their love of sweet stuff. The more variety offered to a glider, the healthier they will be.
		Often considered to be picky eaters, gliders will munch on sweet fruits such as melons, grapes, tomatoes, pears, berries, apples, and the like but should be offered vegetables such as corn, broccoli, yams, carrots, cucumbers and squash. In order to meet their protein requirements, try providing dried cat food, dog food, monkey chow, hard-boiled eggs, live crickets, mealworms, pinky mice, cooked chicken, raw hamburger, and bone marrow. Your glider will let you know what he or she likes and you can take it from there. (Gliders often like nuts and seeds as well, including sunflower and pumpkin seeds. These are acceptable food items, if fed in moderation. Their high fat content can be damaging to your glider's health if over used.)

Remember that sweet tooth while feeding. Small amounts of honey and real maple syrup can be drizzled over more substantial food as an occasional treat. Very pure fresh water should be available, but gliders also appreciate a little fruit juice or special glider nectar for added vitamins and variety.
Bonding, Playtime, and Home Sweet Home:

Bonding takes time, but will lead to a healthy interaction between you and your glider pal. Once your glider has spend enough time riding around in your ‘pouch,’ smelling your smells and listening to your voice, your glider will seek you out for companionship. They will come when they are called, ride on your shoulder, and chatter away with you about the complexities of being a miniature marsupial.
When left to their own devices, they need a large and glider-friendly enclosure to call home. Think height when thinking cage. Gliders like to soar from the top of their perch for exercise and fun. They also enjoy running in rodent wheels and climbing ropes and (non-toxic) tree branches. Avoid using newspaper or cedar shavings in their cages however; both the ink on the paper and the cedar oils are toxic to these little rainforest dwelling critters. If you choose to use natural branches in their cage, find some fruit tree limbs or manzanita; fir, pine, and, of course, cedar will lead to health complications.

Small gage wire cages work well when equipped with fabric sleep sacks, plenty of toys, and lots of climbing options. The feeding station should be easily accessible for you, but off the ground to keep it free from contaminants. (Remember that housebreaking problem from earlier!) Remember to set up a well-equipped living space before bringing a glider home. You’ll both appreciate it!
Handy Tips:

Make sure that you have a vet who will treat your sugar glider before you bring one home. Many vets do not like to work on exotic pets, so make sure that you have one lined up who is not only willing but equipped to deal with your little friend. Want to learn more? Check out The Glider Connection for even more information, useful links, glider chats, and cool products. http://www.gliderconnection.com. And don't hesitate post your questions or advice in the Forum to share with us too!
	Information Sources Elam, Lorna R. "Sugar Gliders: Plenty of Pocket Pet Appeal." [web page]http://www.gliderconnection.com [Accessed October 2, 2001.] "Glider Connection." [web page] http://www.gliderconnection.com [Accessed October 2, 2001.]

Forum | Contact Us | Home | Photos | Links | Site Credits